The International Golf Federation's Ty Votaw says of the course preparations for the 2016 Olympics: 'We are much more encouraged today than we were in March.' Photograph: David Cannon/Getty Images

The prospect of golf’s return to the Olympic Games being overshadowed – or ruined – by an unprepared venue refuses to disappear. That much was obvious on Monday when the International Golf Federation fired a warning at those in charge of the 2016 Games in Rio. Albeit well on the way to construction, the purpose-built golf course has been beset by delays and political wrangling.

Speaking at Royal Liverpool, members of the IGF’s board said the golf course will be fit and ready, but only if no further problems are encountered.

Peter Dawson, the president of the IGF, admitted to a “tight” schedule on the course’s construction. Dawson also refused to rule out golf being pulled from the Games. “I don’t think we’re in any more danger of that than any other sport,” he said.

“I think the whole Rio construction project has been looked at very hard by the IOC. It’s having to be accelerated. And I wouldn’t want to single out golf as the most vulnerable in that process, nor am I here announcing that any other sport is vulnerable.

“It’s a huge undertaking, putting an Olympic Games together, especially, I would imagine, just after a World Cup. And Rio certainly has their work cut out.”

Dawson’s words were endorsed by another board member, the PGA Tour’s Ty Votaw. “Our plan is to have all of the grassing completed by late October, early November of this year,” he said.

“Assuming that the landowner/developer will dedicate the resources necessary to go from a construction phase to an operation phase and a growing phase with equipment, manpower and resources, we think that by meeting this schedule we will have two full growing seasons, which should present optimum conditions for us going forward for the Games in 2016.

“While we’re encouraged by the recent progress, there is still plenty of work to do and there’s still plenty of work that needs to be done on the golf course as well as with the supporting facilities. And it’s critically important that we remain on track with the schedule for us to meet the October-November timeframe that I mentioned.”

Votaw added: “We are much more encouraged today than we were in March. We feel that the landowner/developer needs to continue doing what he’s been doing over the last few months to continue this momentum and move from a construction stage into a grow-in and operational and maintenance stage.

“If they do that we feel that this schedule is certainly achievable.”

When asked to provide a 100% guarantee that the course would be ready, Votaw said: “Predictions are very dangerous things.” In respect of a worst-case scenario, he added: “As far as a contingency plan, I think we’re in no different place than all the other sports in the Olympic Games for Rio 2016 and the readiness and preparedness of Rio.

“There are contingency plans. What they are, is not something we’re going to share right now, but there are contingency plans based on catastrophic, if you will, but if that happens we’re in the same boat with everybody else in that regard.”